The Kotoko Satchel
Flap-over structure, brass buckle, one long strap cut from the shoulder of the hide.
GH₵ 1,850
Made to order
Kumasi, Ghana — Since 2009
Full-grain hides, cut and saddle-stitched by hand in a small Kumasi workshop. No factories, no shortcuts — six house goods, and anything else you can describe.
The Goods
Six pieces, made to last decades
Every piece begins as a single hide, chosen by hand. Prices are for ready pieces in house colourways — bespoke work and personalisation is always available.
The Adum Belt
A single 4mm cut, edge-burnished to a mirror, five hand-punched holes.
GH₵ 420
In stock
Ahenema Sandals
Woven leather straps over a stacked leather sole — the palace sandal, reworked for the street.
GH₵ 650
In stock
The Bantama Tote
Open-top, unlined, roomy enough for the market or the studio. Ages beautifully.
GH₵ 1,200
Made to order
The Bogyawe Wallet
Four card slots, one note pocket, one fold. Slim enough to forget it's there.
GH₵ 380
In stock
The Suame Watch Strap
Tapered calf leather, hand-skived, brass keeper and buckle. Fits most 20mm lugs.
GH₵ 290
In stock
The Process
From hide to handle
Six stations, one bench. Nothing here is done by machine except the hide's own tanning, twenty years before it reaches us.
01
Select the Hide
Full-grain cowhide, graded by hand for grain, thickness and scar.
02
Cut & Pattern
Paper patterns laid against the grain, cut in one pass with a round knife.
03
Skive the Edges
Edges thinned by hand so folds and seams sit flat, never bulky.
04
Saddle-Stitch
Two needles, one waxed thread, pulled tight from both sides — a seam that can't unravel.
05
Burnish the Edge
Wax, friction and a wooden slicker until the raw edge glows like polished horn.
06
Inspect & Finish
Every seam checked under raking light, conditioned, and stamped with the workshop mark.
The Workshop
Tanoso, Kumasi
The workshop sits on a quiet side street in Tanoso, a few minutes from Kumasi's old leather sellers' row. Six benches, one wall of hanging tools, and a window that gets the afternoon light exactly where the burnishing happens.
Kwame Boateng opened it in 2009 after eleven years cutting leather for other people's labels. Today four artisans share the floor — a cutter, two stitchers, and a finisher — and every piece that leaves the bench has been touched by all four.
Visitors are welcome by appointment. Bring a pattern, a photo, or just an idea — most commissions start as a conversation over the cutting table.
16Years cutting
4Artisans on the bench
1Hide at a time
Bespoke Commissions
Describe it. We'll cut it.
Most commissions start from one of the six house goods — a satchel in a colour we don't stock, a belt sized for a growing waistline, a wallet monogrammed for a wedding party. Some start from nothing at all.
- Any hide colour we can source: cognac, oxblood, black, natural veg-tan
- Hardware in brass, nickel or gunmetal
- Hand-tooled initials or adinkra motifs on request
- Typical lead time: 3–5 weeks, workshop visit optional
On the bench.
We'll write back within two working days with a quote and a timeline.
Care Guide
Leather that outlives you
Full-grain leather rewards attention. Four habits keep a Tanoso piece looking better every year instead of worse.
Condition every season
A neutral leather balm every 3–4 months keeps the fibres supple and the grain from cracking with heat and dust.
Let it dry slowly
Caught in the rain? Pat dry and air away from direct heat or sun. Never force-dry leather near a fire or radiator.
Store with shape
Stuff bags with tissue, hang belts, keep wallets away from a back pocket's constant fold. Shape holds when weight doesn't.
Clean gently
A soft, barely damp cloth lifts most dirt. Skip household cleaners — they strip the oils the tannery worked in.